The kynge and his knyȝtis ; to þe kyrke wente

to here mateynes of þe day ; and þe masse after

þanne wakide I of my wynkynge ; and woo was I with-all

þat I ne had slepede sadder ; and I-seiȝ more

and er I had ffaren a ffurlonge ; a ffeyntise me hente

þat I ne myȝte fforþer a ffote ; ffor deffauȝte of slepinge

and satte softely adoun ; and said my beleue

and so I bablid of my bedis ; þei brouȝten me aslepe

and þan sawȝ I moche more ; þan I be-ffore tolde

how I sawȝ þe ffeeld ffull of folk ; þat I beffore of seide

and how reson gan arayn him ; al þe rewme to preche

and a crosse be-ffor þe kyng ; comsid þus to teche

he preueþ þat þese pestelences ; was ffor pure synne

and þe souȝþweste wynde ; on saturday at euen

was pertliche ffor pure pride ; and ffor no poynte ellis

Piries & plumtres ; were puffed to þe erthe

In ensaumple ȝe segges ; ȝe shull do þe better

Beches and brode okys ; were blowyn to þe ground

Turned vppeward here taylis ; in tokenynge of drede

þat dedly synne or domes-day ; schall ffor-do hem alle

of þis mater I myȝte mamell ; ffull longe

and I shall seie as I saw ; so me god helpe

how pertliche be-ffor þe peple ; reson gan to preche

he bad wastoure go wirche ; what he beste couude

and wynnen his wastinge ; with summe maner crafte

and preied peronelle hir purfile to lete

and kepe it in hir coffur ; ffor catell at hir nede

Thome stowe he tauȝte ; to take two staves

and ffecche ffelice home ; ffrom þe wyuen pyne

and warned watte ; his wife was to blame

þat hir hed was worþe half a mark ; his hood not worþe a grotte

And bade bette kutte ; a bouȝ oþer tweyneC

and bete beton þerwith ; but if she wulle werche

and þan he charged schapmen ; to schastisen here childrin

late no wynnynge hem fforwenye ; while þei be ȝonge

Ne ffor no pouste of pestelence ; plese hem not ouȝte of reson

My Sir said to me ; and so dede my dame

That þe leuere childe ; þe more lore bihoueþ

and salomon seid þe same ; þat sapience made

Qui parcit virge ; Odit filium

The englissche of þis latyn ; is who-so wolle it knowe

who-so spariþ þe sprynge ; spilliþ his childrin

and sithen he preyed prelatis ; & prestis to-gedris

That ȝe prechyn to þe peple ; preue it on ȝoure-seluen

and doþe it in dede ; it shall drawe ȝou to good

if ȝe leuen as ȝe lerne vs ; we shulle leue ȝou þe better

And sithen he redde religion ; her rewle to holde

leste þe kyng and his conceill ; ȝoure Comunes apeyre

and ben stywardis of ȝoure stedis ; tille ȝe ben rewlid better

and sythen he conceilid þe kyng ; þe Comunes to loue

It is þi tresore if treson ne were ; and triacle at þi nede

And sithen he preyed þe pope ; haue pete on holy chirche

and er he gyue ony grace ; gouerne ffriste him-seluen

and ȝe þat han lawes to kepe ; late truþe be ȝoure coueitise

More þan gold & oþer gyfftis ; if he wolle god plese

For who-so contrarieþ truthe ; he telliþ in þe gospell

That god knoweþ him not ; ne no seint of heuene

Amen dico vobis ; nescio vos ;

And ȝe þat seken seint Iames ; and seintis of rome

Seketh seint truwthe ; ffor he may saue ȝou alle

Qui cum patre et filio ; þat ffaire hem be-ffalle

That suen my sermon ; and þus said reson

Than ran repentaunce ; rehered his tyme

and garte wille to wepe water with his eiȝen

Pernelle proude herte ; platte hir to þe erthe

and lay long or she lokede ; and lord mercy cried

and bi-hiȝte on-to him ; þat vs alle made

she shuld vnsuen hir serk ; and sette þer an haire

To affaytin hir ffleissheP ; þat ffers was to synne

shall neuer hie herte me hente ; but holde me lowe

and suffre to be mysseyd ; and so dede I neuer

But now wulle I meke me ; and mercy biseche

For alle þis I haue hatid ; in myn herte

Than lecchoure seid alas ; and on oure lady cried

To make mercy ffor his misdedis ; bitwynne god & his soule

with þat he shulde þe saturday ; seuene ȝere þer-after

Drinke P but with þe doke ; and dyne but ones

Envie with heuy herte ; askede after schryfte

and careffulliche mea culpa ; he comsede to schewe

he was as pale as a pelet ; in palsie he semed

and cloþid in a cawrimawry ; I couude it not discriue

In kirtell & courtbi ; and a knyf bi his side

Of a ffreris ffrokke ; were þe ffor-sleues

and as a leek had I-ley ; long in þe sonne

So loked he with lere schekis ; lowringe ffowle

his body was to-bolne ffor wrathe ; þat he bote his lippis

And wry{k}ngynge he ȝede with his ffiste ; to wreke him-self he þouȝt

with werkis or with wordis ; whan he saw his tyme

Iche a word þat he warpe ; was of an eddris tunge

Of chidinge of chalanginge ; was his scheff lyfflode

with bacbytinge and bismere ; and beringe of ffals wittenesse

This was alle his Curteysie ; where þat euere he schewid him

I wolde be schreven quod þis schrewe ; and I ffor shame durste

I wolde be glader be god ; þat gibbe had mysschaunceP

þan þouȝ I had þis woke I-wonnen ; a weye of Esex chese

I haue a neybore nyȝe me ; I haue enviedT him ofte

and lowen on him to lordis ; to do him lese his siluere

and made his ffrendis be his ffon ; þoruȝ my ffals tunge

{.................}His grace and his good happis ; greved me ffull sore

Bitwynne many & many ; I make debate ofte

That boþe lijf and lym ; is lost þoruȝ my speche

and whan I mette him in market ; þat I most hated

I halse him hendeliche ; as I his ffrende where

For he is douȝtiere þan I ; I dar do non oþer

and I hade maistrie & myȝth ; god wotte my wille

and whan I come to þe kyrke ; & shulde knele to-ffore þe rode

and preie ffor þe peple ; as þe prest techeþ

For pylgrimes and ffor palmers ; ffor alle þe peple after

{...}And þan I creed on my knees ; þat crist ȝeue hem sorowe

That baren awey my bolle ; and my brokyn schete

Away ffro þe auuter ; þan turned I my eiȝen

And be-helde how Eleyn ; hath a newe cote

I wisshed þan it were myn ; and alle þe webbe after

and of mennys leesingez I lawȝe ; þat myn herte aketh

And ffor her wynnynge I wepe ; and whayle þe tyme

And deme þat þei don ille ; þer I do well wers .

who-so vndirnemeþ me here-of ; I hate him dedly after

and I wolde þat Iche a wiȝte ; where myn owen knaue

For who-so hath more þan I ; That angreth me sore

and þus I leue loueles ; like a lether dogge

That all my body bolneþ ; ffor bitter of my galle

I myȝte not ete many ȝeris ; as a man auȝte

For envie and euell wille ; is euell to deffie

May no sugre ne switte þing ; aswage my swellinge

Ne non diapenidion ; dryue it ffro myn herte

Ne neiþer schrefte ne schame ; but who-so schrape my mawe

ȝis rede I quod repentaunce ; and rede him to þe beste

Sorouȝ of Synnes ; is sauacioun of soulis

I am sory quod þat segge ; I am but selden oþer

and þat makiþ me þus megre ; ffor I ne may me avenge

Amongis burgeicis haue I ben ; dwellinge at london

and garte bacbytinge be a brokoure ; to blame menis ware

whanne he solde and I not ; þan was I redy

To lye and to lowre on my neibore ; and lakked his schaffareC

I wolle amende þis if I may ; be myȝth of god almyȝti

Now awakiþ wrathe ; with two whiȝte eiȝen

And snevelinge with þe nose ; and his nek hangynge

I am wrath quod he ; I was sumtyme a ffrere

and couentis gardener ; ffor to gryffyn Impis

On lemytouris & legistreris ; lesingis I Impid

Tille þei bere leues of lowe speche ; lordis to plese

and sithen þei blosmeden abrode ; in boure to here schreftes

And now is ffallyn þer-of a ffructe ; þat ffolk han well leuere

Schewen here schrefftis to hem ; þan schreve hem to her parsons

and now han parsons parceiued ; þat ffreris partin with hem

These possessouris prechin ; and deprauen ffreris

And ffreris ffynden hem in deffaute ; as ffolk berin wittenesse

That whan þei prechin þe peple ; in many places abouȝte

I wrathe walke with hem ; & wisse hem of my bokys

Thus þei speken of spiritualte ; þat eiþer dispiciþ oþer

Till þei ben boþe beggers ; and be my spiritualte leuen

Or ellis alle riche ; and riden abouȝte

I wraþe reste neuer ; þat I ne muste ffolowe

These wiked ffolk ; ffor swiche is my grace

I haue an aunte to nunne & an abbesse boþe

hir were leuere suowne or swelte ; or suffre ony peyne

I haue ben cook in hir kechon ; and þe couente serued

Many monþes with hem ; and with monkis boþe

I was þe preoresse potagere ; and oþer pore ladies

and made hem Ioutes with Iangelinge ; þat dame Ione was a bastard

and dame Clarice a knyȝtis douȝter ; & a cokwolde was hir Syre

and dame pernell a prestis ffile ; prioresse worthe sche neuer

For she had Child in cherre tyme ; alle oure chapitre it wiste

Of wicked wordis I wrathe ; her wortes I made

Tyll þou lyxt & þou lyxt ; loupen out at ones

and eiþer hitte oþer ; vndir þe cheke

had þei had knyues bi crist ; eiþer had kyllyd oþer

Seynt gregori was a good pope ; & had a good ffor-witte

That no prioresse were preste ; ffor thatC he ordeyned

Thei hade þan ben infamis ; þei kun so euell holde conceyll

Among monkys I myȝte be ; and many tyme I schone

For þey ben many ffelle ffreekis ; my ffreris to aspie

Boþe prioure and subprioure ; & ȝoure pater abbas

and if I telle ony talis ; þey takyn hem to-gedris

and do me ffaste ffridais ; to brede & to water

and am chalengid in þe Champitre hous ; as I a childe were

and baleysid on þe bare ers ; and no breche bitwynne

I ete þer vnhende ffisshe ; & ffeble ale drink P

and oþerwhile whan wyn Comeþ ; & I drink P it at euen

I haue a fflyx of a ffoule mouþe ; well ffyve daies after

alle þe wikkednesse þat I woot ; by ony of oure bretheren

I make knowe it in oure cloyster ; þat alle þe couent wott it

Now repente the quod repentaunce ; and reherce þou neuer

Conceyll þat þou knowiste ; bi contenaunce P ne be syȝt

And drinke P not ouere-delicatly ; ne to depe neiþer

þat þi wille be cause þer-of ; to wrathe myȝte turne

Esto sobrius he said ; & asoylid me after

and bade me wilne to wepe ; my wikkednesse to amende

And þan cam coueitise ; I can him not discriue

So hungryly and holowe ; Syr heruy him lokede

he was bytilbrowed ; and babirlipped also

with two blered eien ; as a blynde hagge

and as a letheren purs lolled his chekis

well synder þan his chyn ; þey cheveled ffor elde

and as a bonde-man of his bakon ; his berd was be-drauelid

with an hood on his hed ; a lowsy hatte aboue

And in a tawny taberde ; of twelue wynter of age

All to-torne and baudy ; and ffull of lyse Crepinge

but if þat a lowse couude ; haue lopen þe better

she shuld haue walkid þer-on ; so was it þred-bare

I haue ben coueitous quod þis caytif ; I be-knowe it here

For Sumtyme I serued{synnne} Symme at þe style

and was his printyse pliȝte ; his prophete to wayte

Friste I lerned to lye ; a leef oþer tweyne

wyckidliche to weye ; was my ffriste lesson

To wye & to wynchester ; I wente to þe ffaire

with many maner marchaundes ; as my maister me hiȝte

Ne had þe grace of gyle ; goo amonge my schaffare

It had ben vnsolde þis Seuene ȝere ; so me god helpe

Than drowȝ I me among drapers ; my donet to lerne

To drawe þe lesere alonge ; þe lenger it semed

Amonge þe riche rayes ; I rendrid a lesson

To broche hem with a paknedill ; and playted hem to-gedris

and put hem in a presse ; and pynned hem þer-inne

Tille ten ȝerdis or twelue ; had tolde out þrettene

My wyff was a webber ; and wullen cloþe made

he spake to spynsters ; to spynne it oute

and þe pounde þat she payd by ; weyed a quartron more

þan myn owen owen aunser ; who-so weyed truþe

I bouȝte hir barly malte ; sche brewe it to selle

peny ale & puddinge ale ; sche pouride to-gedris

For laboreris & lowe ffolk ; þat lay be hem-seluen

The beste ale lay in my boure ; or in my bed chaunbre

And who-so bummed þer-of ; he bouȝte it þer-after

a galon ffor a grote ; god woote no lesse

and ȝit it come in cuppe-melle ; þis crafte my wyff vside

Rose þe regrater ; was hir rith name

Sche hath holdyn hukrie ; all hir lyue-tyme

and I swere now . so þe ek ; þat synne wolle I lette

and neuer wickidliche weie ; ne wikkid schaffare vse

But wenden to walsingham ; and my wyf als

And bidde þe rode of bromholme ; bringe me out of dette

Repentiste þou euere quod repentaunce P ; or restitucion madiste

Ȝis onys I was herbowride quod he ; with an hepe of schapmen

I rosse whan þey were areste ; and riffled her malis

That was no restitucion quod repentaunce ; but a robbers þeffte

þou haddiste ben better worthi ; to be hanged þerfforeC

þan ffor all þat þou hast ; here now schewed

I wende reffelinge were restitucion quod he ; I lernede neuer on book

And I can no ffrensheP in ffeiþ ; but of þe fferþeste ende of northffolk

Vsisideste þou euere vsurie quod repentaunce ; in all þi lyf-tyme

Nay sothely he said ; saue in my ȝouthe

I lernede amongis lumbardis ; and Iues a lesson

To wey pens with a peise ; and pare þe heuyeste

And lene it ffor loue of þe crosse ; to legge a wed & lese it

swiche dedis I dede writte ; if he his day broke

I haue mo maners þoruȝ rerages ; þan þoruȝ miseretur et comodat

I haue lent lordis ; and ladies my schaffare

and ben her brokoure after ; and bouȝte it my-self

Eschaunges and cheuysaunces ; with swiche schaffare I dele

and lene ffolk þat lese wolle ; a lippe at euery noble

and with lumbardis lettres ; I ledde gold to rome

and toke it be tayle here ; and tolde þer lesse

lenteste þou euere lordis ; ffor loue of here meyntenaunce

ȝe I haue lente lordis ; þat louede me neuer after

and haue mad many knyȝt ; boþe mercer and draper

þat payd neuer ffor his prentisod ; not a peire gloues

haste þou pite on pore men ; þat mote nedis borwȝe

I haue as moche pite on hem ; as pedler hath on cattis

That wolde kylle hem if he myȝt ; ffor coueytise of her skynnes

arte þou manliche among þi neiboris ; of mete and of drink P

I am holdyn as hende quod he ; as hound is in kechen

amonge my neiȝboris nameliche ; swiche a name I haue

God lene neuer quod repentaunce ; but þou repente þe raþer

The grace on þis ground ; þi good wille to be-sette

Ne þin eiris after þe ; haue Ioy of þat þou wynneste

Ne þin exsecutores bisette þi siluer ; þat þou hem louest

and þat was wonnen with wronge ; with wickyde men be disspendid

For where I a ffrere of þat hous ; þer good feiþ & charite is

I nolde cope vs with þi tatell ; ne oure kirke amende

Ne haue a peny to my pitaunce ; of þin . bi myn soule hele

For þe best book in oure hous ; þouȝ brente gold were þe leues

and I wiste wittirly þou were ; swiche as þou telleste

Or ellis þat I couude knowe it ; by ony-skynnes wise

Seruus es alterius cum fercula pinguia queris

Pane tuo pocius . vescere liber eris

Thou arte an on-kynde creature ; I can þe not assoile

Tyll þou make restitucion ; and rekene with hem alle

and sithen þat reson rolle it ; in þe register of heuene

þat þou haste made iche ma{de}n good I may þe not asoile

Non d{e}imittitur . peccatum ; donec restituatur ablatum & cetera

For alle þat han of þi good ; haue god my truþe

Ben holden at þe hie dom ; to helpe þe to restitue

and who-so le{u}veþ not þis be sothe ; loke in þe sauȝter glose

In miserere mei deus ; wher I mene truþe

Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti et cetera  .

schall neuer werkeman in þis world ; þr{e}iffe with þat þou wynnest

Cum sancto sanctus eris & cetera construe me þat on Englisshe

Than wex þat schrewe in wanhope ; and wolde haue hangid him-self

Ne had repentaunce þe rather ; reconffortide him in þis manere

haue mercy in þi mynde ; and with þi mouþ be-seche it

For goddis mercy is more ; þan alle his oþer werkis

Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius

and alle wikkidnesse of þis world ; þat man myȝth do or þenk

Nis no more to þe mercy of god ; þan in þe see a glede

Omnis iniquitas quantum ad misericordiam dei ; est quasi Sintilla in medio maris

For-þi haue mercy in þi mynde ; and marchaundise leue it

For þou hast no good ground ; to gette þe with a wastell

But if it where with þi tinge P ; or ellis with þi two handis

For þe good þat þou haste getten ; by-gan alle with ffalshed

and as longe as þou leueste þer-with ; þou ȝeldiste not but boruȝwest

and if þou woste neuer to whiche ; ne whom to restitue

Bere it to þe bisshope ; and bid him of his grace

by-sette it him-self ; as best is ffor þi soule

For he shall answere ffor þe ; at þe hie dom

For the and many moo ; that man schall ȝeue a rekenyngeC

what he lerned ȝou in lentton ; leue ȝe non oþer

And what he lente ȝou of his good ; to witte ȝou ffro synne

For he shulde helpe ȝou ; of oure lordis good

Now bygynneth gloton ; ffor to go to schrifte

and kaires him to kirkeward ; his coupe to schewe

and beton þe browster ; bade him good morwe

and axede of him with þat ; whedirwarde he wolde

To holi kyrke quod he ; ffor to here masse

And sithen I wolle be schreven ; and synne no more

I haue good ale gossipe quod sche ; glotton wulte þou asay

haste þou auȝte in þin purs ; ony hoot spices

I haue peper & piones quod {...}sche ; & a pound of garlek

and a fferþingworthe of ffenell seed ; ffor ffastinge daiez

Than gooþ glotton in ; and grette oþes after

Cesse þe Souteresse ; satte vn þe benche

watte þe warner ; and his wyff after

Thome þe tynker ; and tweyn of his prentise

hyke þe haykeney man ; and hue þe nedeler

Clarice of Cokkislane ; & þe clerk of þe chirche

Dawe þe diker ; and a doseyn oþer

Syr pers of pride ; and pernell of fflaundris

A ribiboure & a ratonere ; and a raker of þe schepe

a roper a ridyngkyng ; and rose þe dischere

Godffrey of garlichiþe ; and gefferon þe walsche

& vpholsters of cornhillT an heppe ; erly be þe morwe

Gouen T gloton with good chere ; good ale to ansall

Clement þe coblere ; caste of his cloke

And at þe new ffeire ; he nempnede it to selle

Hikke þe hakeyney man ; hitte his hood after

And bade bette þe boccher ; ben on his side

Ther weren schapmen schosyn ; þis schaffare to preise

who-so had þe hood ; shulde haue amendis of þe cloke

Two risen vp in rape ; and rounded to-gedris

And preysed þese penneworþis ; a partie be herselfC

Thei couþen not bi her concience ; acordyn in truþe

Tyll Robyn þe roper ; aros be þe souþe

And nempned him ffor a nounper ; þat no debate nere

For to trie þis chaffare ; bitwixen hem þre

Hikke þe hosteler ; had þe cloke

In couenaunteP þat Clemente ; shulde þe cuppe ffille

And haue hikkis hood hosteler ; and holde him serued

And who þat repentiþ raþer ; shulde arise after

And grete well Sir glotton ; with a galon ale

Ther was lauȝwinge and lowȝringe ; and late go þe cuppe

And so satten tyll euensongtyme; and sungen oþer-while

Tyll glotton had globbed ; a galon & a gille

His guttus bigunne gotheli to grulleT ; as two gredi sowes

He pissed a potell ; in a pater noster while

And blewe his round reuet ; at his rigge-bonys ende

That alle þat herdyn þat horn ; helde her nose after

And wischede it had be waxed with a wispe of ffirris

He myȝte neiþer stepe ne stonde ; er he his staff had

And þan gan he to goo ; like a glewmanis bicche

Sum-tyme aside ; and sum-tyme arere

And who-so leythe lynes ; ffor to lacche ffouulis

And whan he drow to þe durre ; þan dymmed his eiȝen

He stumbled on þe þreschold ; and þrew to þe erthe

Clemente þe cobler ; cauȝte him be þe myddill

For to lyfte him alofte ; and leyde him on his knees

And gloton was a grette cherl ; and grymme in lyftinge

And cowed vp a cawdell ; in clementis lappe

Is non so hungry an hound ; in hertford-schyre

Durste haue lapped of þat leuynges P ; so vnloueliche þei smackyd

with alle þe woo of þis world ; his wyf and his wenche

Barin him home to his bed ; and brouȝten him þer-inne

and after al his acsses ; he had an accidie

þat he sleppte saturday & sunday ; till sonne wente to reste

þan wakyd he of his wynkynge ; & wyped his eiȝen

Frist word þat he warvpT was ; where is þe bolle

hys witte gan edwitte him þoo ; how wyckidliche he leuedC

and repentaunce P rith þoo ; so Rebukede him þat tyme

as þou with wordis & werkis ; hast wrouȝte ille in þi lyff

schreve þe and be aschamed þer-of ; and schewe it with mouþe

I gloton quod þe gome ; gilti me {.}ȝilde

þat I haue tresspassid with my tunge ; I can not telle how ofte

Sworyn godis soule ; & so god meP helpe and holy-dome

Ther no nede ne was ; nyne hundrid tymes

and ouere-sey me at sopere ; and sum-tyme at nones

þat I gloton gyrde vp ; er I had gon a myle

and spilte þat myȝte a be spared ; and spendid on sum hungry

Ouere-delicatly on ffastinge-daies ; dronken and eten bothen

And satte sum-tyme so long þer ; þat I slepte and ete at ones

For loue of talis in tauernes ; to drynk þe more I dynede

and hied to þe mete or nonne ; whene ffastinge-daiez werin

This schewinge schrefte ; quod repentaunce . shall be merite to þe

and þan gan glotton grette ; and grett doell made

For his leþer lyff þat he leued had ; {and vowed to ffaste}

And vowed to ffaste ; ffor hunger or ffor þreste

Shall neuer ffisshe on ffriday ; diffien in my wombe

Tyll abstinaunce my aunte ; haue ȝeuen me leue

and ȝit haue I hated hir ; all my lyff-tyme

Than cam slouthe all beslabrede ; with two glemy eiȝen

I muste sitte said þe segge ; or ellis I shulde nappe

I may not stonde ne stowpe ; ne with-ouȝtyn a stoll knele

where I brouȝte abedde ; but if my tail-ende it made

shulde no ringynge do me rise ; or I were ripe to dyne

he be-gan benedicite with a bolk ; and his breste knokkid

and roxede & roride ; and rutte at þe laste

awake renk quod repentaunce P ; and rape the to schrefte

if I shulde die be þis day ; me liste not to loke

I can not parffiȝtly my pater-noster ; as þe preste siggeþ

but I can rimes of robyn hood ; & randolf of chester

and neiþer of oure lord ne of oure lady ; þe leste þat is made

I haue made vowes ffyfty ; and ffor-ȝeten on þe morwenC

I parfformed neuer pennaunce ; as þe prest me hiȝte

Ne riȝth sori ffor my synnes ; ȝit was I neuer

And if I bidde ony bedis ; but if it be in wrathe

That I telle it with my tunge ; is two myle ffro myn herte

I am occupied iche day ; haly day and oþer

with ydell talis at þe ale ; and oþer-while in chirches

godis peyne and his passion ; ffull seldom þenk I on

I vesite neuer ffeble men ; ne ffetrid ffolk in pittis

I haue leuere here an harlotrie ; or somer game of souters

or lesingez to lawehe at ; and be-lye my neȝboris

Than all þat euere mark made ; matwe Iohan & lucas

and vigelis and ffastinge-daies ; alle þese late I passe

and ligge abed in lenton ; and my lemman in myn armes

Tyll matynys & messe be don ; and go to þe ffreris

Come I to Ite missa est ; I holde me serued

I am not schreuen sum-tyme ; but sekenesse it make

Not twyes in two ȝere ; and þan vp gesse I schryue me

I haue be prest and parson ; passinge þretti ȝere

ȝit can I neiþer solfe ne synge ; ne seyntis lyues rede

but I can ffynde in a ffelde ; or in a ffurlonge an hare

better þan a beatus vir ; or in beati omnes

Construe o clause well ; and lerne it to þi parishenes

I can holde loue-daiez ; and holde a reues rekenynge P

and in canon ne decretalis ; I can not rede a lyne

If I bigge & boruȝ it ; but if it be taylid

I ffor-ȝete it as sone ; & if men me it axe

Syx sithes or seuene ; I ffor-sake it with othes

and þus tene I trewe men ; ten hundrid tymes

and my seriauntis sum-tyme ; her salarie is be-hynde

Reuþe is to here þe rekenynge ; whan we shulle rede acountis

So with wykkid wille & wrathe ; my werk-men I paye

if ony man do me a beneffette ; or helpe me at nede

I am vnhynde aȝens his curteisie ; and can not vndirstonde it

For I haue and haue had ; sum-dell haukis manerez

I am not lered with loue ; but if ouȝt lye vndir þe þumbe

The kyndenesse þat myn euen-Cristen ; kydden me fferne-ȝere

Syxti sithes I slauȝthe ; haue ffor-ȝeten it sithe

In speche and in sparinge ; I spynte many tyme

Bothe ffleisshe and ffisshe ; butter mylk and schese

Boþe bred and ale ; and many oþer vetailis

For slewþenesse in my seruyse ; till it myȝth serue no man

I ran abouȝte in ȝouþe ; and ȝaf me not to lerne

and euere sythe haue I ben begger ; ffor my ffoule sleuþe

heu michi quod sterilem ; vitam duxi iuuenilem

repentiste þou not quod repentaunce P ; and riȝt with þat he swowned

Tyll vigilate þe veill ; ffette water at his eien

and fflatte it on his fface ; and ffaste on him cried

and sayd whare þe ffor whanope ; wolde þe betraye

I am sori ffor my synnes ; seie to þy-selue

and bete þi-self on þe brest ; and bid him of grace

For is no gylt here so grett ; þat his goodnese is more

þan satte sleuthe vp ; and seyned him swythe

and made avow to-ffor god ; ffor his ffoule sleuþe

shall no sunday be þis seuene ȝere ; but sekenesse it lette

þat I ne shall do me er day ; to þe dere chirche

and here matynis and messe ; as I a monk were

shall non ale after mete ; holde me þennes

Tyll I haue euensong herd ; I be-hote to þe rode

and ȝit wolle I ȝelde aȝeyne ; if so moche haue

al þat I wickidly wan ; sythen I witte hadde

and þouȝ my lyflode lake ; leten I nylle

That iche man shall haue his ; er I henns wende

and with þe resedue & þe remenaunte ; be þe rode of chestre

I shall seke truþe erst ; er I se rome

Robert þe rober ; on reddite lokede

and ffor þer was nout where-of ; he wepte swithe

and ȝit þe synffull schrewe ; said to him-selue

Crist þat on þe Caluerie ; vppon þe croise deiedist

Thoo dismas my brother ; by-souȝte ȝou of grace

And haddiste mercy on þat man ; ffor memento sake

So Rewe on this robber ; that reddere he ne hathe C

ne neuer wene to wynne ; with crafte þat I owe

But ffor þi mekill mercy ; mytigacioun biseche

Ne dampne me not ; at domusday ; ffor þat I dede ille

what be-ffelle of þis schrewe ; I can not ffaire schewe

well I wotte he wepte ffaste ; water with Pboþe his yen

and knowlichid his gilt to crist ; ȝit after-sones

That petitencia his pijk ; he shulld pulsshe newe

and lepe with him ouer lond ; al his lijf-tyme

For he had loyn be latro ; lucifers aunte

and þan had repentaunce P reuþe . and redde hem alle to knele

For I shall beseche ffor ale synffull ; oure saueoure of grace

To amende us of oure myssdedis ; and do mercy to us alle

Now god quod he of þi goodnesse ; that gunne þe worlde make

And of nouȝt madeste ouȝte ; and man moste lyke to þi-selue

And sithen suffreste ffor synne ; a sekenesse to vs alle

And all ffor þe best as I beleue ; whateuere þe book telliþ

O felix culpa o necessarium ade peccatum et cetera .

For þoruȝ þat synne þi sonne ; sent was to þis erthe

and bi-cam man of a mayde ; mankynde to saue

and madiste þi-self with þi sonn ; and vs synneful yliche

Faciamus hominem ad ymaginem et Similitudinem nostram

Et alibi qui manet in Caritate in deo manet & cetera .

and sithe with þi self sonne ; in oure sute deieste

On good ffriday ffor mannys sake ; at ffull tyme of þe day

There þi-self ne þi sonne ; no sorowe in deþe ffelediste

But in oure Secte was þe Sorwe ; and þi sonne it ladde

Captiuam duxit Captiuitatem et cetera .

The sunne ffor sorwe þer-of ; lees his liȝt ffor a tyme

Abouȝte mydday whan moste liȝt is ; and meel-tyme of Seyntis

Feddiste with þi ffresshe blood ; oure fforfadris in derkenesse

Populus qui ambulabat in tenebris vidit lucem magnam

And thorw þe liȝte that leepe of the ; luciffer was blenteC

and blewe alle thi blessid ; in-to þe blisse of paradice

The þred day after ; ȝildiste in oure Sute

and Synffull marie þe Seiȝ ; er Seint marie þi dame

and to solace synffull ; þou suffridist it so were

Non veni vocare iustos set peccatores ad penytenciamP

and al þat mark haþe I-made ; Matheu Iohan & lucas

Of þi douȝti dedis ; whern don in oure armes

Verbum caro factum est ; et habitauit in nobis

and bi so moche me semeþ ; þe sekerere we mowe

Bidde and bisiche ; if it be þi wille

þat arnt oure ffader ; & oure broþer ; bi mercyable til vs

And haue reuþe on þese ribauudis ; þat repenten hem here sore

That euere þei wraþeden þe in þis world ; in word þouȝt or dede

Than hente hope an horn ; of deus tu conuersus viuificabis

And blewe it with bieati quorum ; remisse sunt iniquitates

That {.}Alle seyntis in heuene ; Sungen at ones

Homines & Iumenta saluabis quemadmodum multiplicasti misericordiam tuam deus & cetera

A þouusand of men þoo ; þrungen to-gedris

Crieden vpward to crist ; and to his clene moder

To haue grace to go with hem ; truþe to seke

and þer was wyȝt non so wyse ; þe wey þedir couþe

but blustred fforþ as bestis ; ouere bankis and hillis

Tyl late was and longe ; þat þei a lede metten

Apparaylide as a paynym ; in pilgrimes wise

he bare a burdon y-boundyn ; with a blod liste

In a swyþe wyndis wyse ; y-wounden abouȝte

A bolle and a bagge ; he bare bi his side

an hundrid of ampullus ; on his hatte sette

Signes of Synay ; and schellis of galis

and many a crouche on his croke ; and keyes of rome

and þe vernycle beffore ; ffor men shulden knowe

and se be his signes ; whom he souȝt hadde

These ffolk ffreyned ffriste ; ffrom wennes he come

Fro Synay he seide ; and ffro oure lordis SepulcreC

In bedelem and in babiloyne ; I haue ben in boþe

In Ermonye in Alisaundre ; in many oþer places

Ȝe mowe se be my signes ; þat sitten on myn hatte

þat I haue walkid ffulle wyde ; in wete & in driȝe

and souȝte good seyntis ; ffor my soulis helþe

knowiste þou auȝte a corseynte ; þat men callyn {n}truþe

Canste þou wissen vs þe weye ; where þat he dwelliþ

Nay so me god helpe ; sayd þe gom þan

I seiȝ neuer palmer with pijk ; ne with scrippe wende

axen after him ; er now in þis place

Petir quod a plowman ; and put fforþe his hed

I knowe him as kyndely ; as clerk doþe his book

Concience and kynde witte ; kenned me to his place

and dede me swere sikirly ; to serue him ffor euere

Boþe to Sowe & to sette ; þe while I swynke myȝte

I haue ben his ffolwer ; al þis fifti wynter

Boþe sowe his seed ; and ffedde his bestis

with-inne & with-ouȝtyn waytyd his prophete

I dyke and I delue ; and do þat truþe hotiþ

Sum-tyme I sowe ; and sum-tyme I þresshe

In taylouris crafte ; & tykers crafte ; what truþe deuyse can

I weue & I wynde ; and do what truþe hoteþ

For þouȝ I seie it my-self ; I serue him to pay

Ich haue myn hyre well ; and oþer-whilis more

he is þe presteste paiere ; þat pore men knowen

he with-halte non hewe his hire ; þat he ne haþe it at euen

he is as lowe as a lomb ; and loueliche of speche

and if ȝe wilneþ to witte ; where þat he dwelliþ

I shall wisse ȝou witterly ; þe wey to his place

Ȝhe leue pers quod þese pilgrimes ; and prophered him hire

For to wende with hem ; to truþis dwellinge place

Nay bi my soule quod peers ; & gan ffor to swere

I nolde ffonge a fferþing ; ffor Seynt thomas schryne

Truþe wolde loue me þe lesse ; long tyme after

And if ȝe wylneþe to wende well ; this is þe wey thedereC

þat I shall seye to ȝou ; and sette ȝou in þe sothe

Ȝe motton goo þoruȝ mekenesse ; boþe men & wyues

Tyll ȝe come to concience ; þat crist witte þe sothe

þat ȝe loue {þe}oure lord god ; leueste of alle þingis

and þan ȝoure neȝboris nexte ; in non wise apaire

Oþer-wyse þan þou woldest ; he wrouȝte to þi-selue

And so {...}boweþ fforþe be a brok ; beþe buxum of speche

Tyll þe ffynde a fforþe ; ȝoure ffadris ȝe honoure

honora patrem et matrem et cetera  .

wadeþ in water ; and wasshe ȝou well þere

and ȝe shulle lepe þe lyȝtelyer ; al ȝoure lijf-tyme

and so shalt þou swere not ; but if it be ffor nede

and nameliche in ydell ; þe name of god almyȝti

Than shalt þou come be a crofte ; but come not þer-inne

That crofte hatte coueitise ; not menis catell ne her wyues

Ne non of her seruauntis ; þat noyen hem myȝte

loke ȝe breke no bowes þer ; but if it be ȝoure owen

Two stokkis þer stondyn ; and stynte ȝe not þere

þey hatten stele not ne slee not ; strike fforth be-ffore

and leue hem on þi lifte half ; and loke not þer-after

and holde well þin halyday ; hie till euene

Than shalt þou blenche at a berueȝ ; bere no ffals wittenesse

he is ffrendid with ffloreyns ; and oþer ffoos many

loke þou plukke no plante þer ; ffor perell of þi soulle

Than shulle ȝe se seie soþe ; so it be do don

In no maner ellis not ; ffor no manny biddinge

Than shalt þou come to a courte ; as cler as þe sunne

The moot þe mercy ; þe maner abouȝte P

alle þe wallis ben of witte ; to holde wille ouȝte

and ky{l}rnelid with Cristendom ; mankynde to Saue

Botraced with beleue so ; or þou best not saued

alle þe housis ben hiled ; halles and Chaumbris

with no leed but with loue ; & lowe speche as breþeren

The brigge is of bidde well ; þe bette may þou spedeC

Iche piler is of penaunce P ; of preiere to Seyntis

of almes-dedis arn þe hokis ; þe gatis hongyn on

Grace hatte þe gateward ; a good man ffor-sothe

his man hatte Amende ȝou ; ffor mAny men him knowen

Telliþ him þis tokene ; þat truþe witte þe soþe

I parfformede þe penaunce P ; þe prest me enioynede

and am ffull sori ffor my synnes ; and so I shall euere

whan I þenke þer-on ; þouȝ I were a pope

Biddiþ amende ȝou meke him ; to his maister ones

To wayue vp þe wekette ; þat þe womman schette

þoo adam and eue eten applis vn-rosted

Per euam cuntis clausa est ; & per mariam virginem patefacta est & cetera

For he haþe þe key and þe clykette ; þouȝ þe kynge slepe

and if grace graunte þee ; to goo in þis wyse

þou shall se in þi-self ; truþe sette in þin herte

In a cheyne of Charite ; as þou a childe where

To suffre him and segge nouȝt ; aȝeine þi siris wille

and be warre þan of wraþe ; þat is a wickide schrewe

he haþe Envie till him ; þat in þin herte sittiþ

and powkiþ fforþe pride ; to preisyn þi-seluen

The boldenesse of þi benefetis ; maken þe blynde þan

and worþest þou dryuen out as dew ; and þe dore closid

keyed and cliketid ; to kepe þe with-ouȝten

happely an hundrid wynter ; er þou efte entre

Thus myȝtiste þou lesen his loue ; to lete well be þi-selluen

and neuer happely efte entre ; tyll grace þou haue

and þer ben seuene sistrin ; þat seruen truþe euere

and ben porters of þe posternes ; þat to þe place longen

That on hatte abstynence ; and humylite anoþerC

Charite and Chastite ; ben his scheff maydynys

pacience and pees ; moche peple þei helpen

largenesse þe lady ; she lete out ffull many

she haþe holpen a þouusande ; out of þe deuyllis pynffolde

and who-so is sibbe to þese seuene ; so me god helpe

he is wondirliche {wondirlic}welcome ; and ffaire vndirffongenC

and but if ȝe be sibbe ; to Summe of þese seuene

It is ffull hard by myn heed ; quod pers ; ffor ony of ȝou alle

To gete ingoynge at þe gate þer ; but grace be þe more

Now bi crist quod cutpurs ; I haue no kyn þere

Nen I quod an apeward ; be out þat I knowe

Wow to god quod a wafferere ; wiste I þis ffor soþe

sschuld I neuer fforþer a ffoote ; ffor no ffreris prechinge

Ȝis quod peers þe plowman ; and poukide all to good

mercy is a maydin þer ; haþe myȝth ouere alle

and sche is sibbe to alle synneffull ; and hir sonne also

and þoruȝ þe help of hem {....}Twoo ; hope þou non oþer

þou myȝtest gette grace þer ; by so þou go bi tyme

By seint poul quod a pardouner ; parauenture I be not knowe þere

I woll fecche my box with my breuettis ; and a bulle with bisschoppis lettres

By crist quod a Comune womman ; þi Companye wolle I ffolwe

Thou shallt saie I am þi sister ; I ne woot were þey be-comen